UEFA Champions League review: Matchday 5 preview

The Champions League group stage is coming to an end very soon as teams will face their opponents for the second last time in the 5th group stage game. The group stage coming to an end means we can finally assume by looking at the group standing on which team will for sure be qualifying for the round of 16 and the ones who will be dropped down to the Europa League and out of the Champions League respectively.  

Group - E

Feyenoord vs Atletico Madrid  

Time: 1:30 am  

Top of the group Atletico face Feyenoord at their home ground to confirm their qualification spot for the round of 16 for one and all. Last time out the match went pretty exciting till the very end as Atletico pipped the Netherlands outfit by just a goal with the final score line being 3-2. Feyenoord haven’t yet lost hope to qualify for the latter stages of the competition as their star  Mexican striker Santiago Giminez is one of the most in-form strikers around the globe who can turn the match around from any point.

Feyenoord injury list: Trauner, Minteh

Atletico injury list: Soyuncu, Giminez, Depay, Barrios, Savic, Lemar, Rienildo

Group - F

PSG vs Newcastle  

Time: 1:30 am  

Recent news reportedly stated about Newcastle and PSG fans clashing against each other in the stadium with measures being taken to make the environment cool. Last time out, nobody expected Newcastle to win against Champions League Regulars PSG who have undoubtedly one of the best squads in the world at present. The French giants will be hoping to turn their fortune around at home.

PSG injury list: Bernat, Asensio, Rico, Kimpembe, Mendes

Newcastle injury list: Isak, Burns, Anderson, Wilson, Murphy, Targett, Botman, Manquillo  

AC Milan vs Dortmund

Time: 1:30 am  

Champions League group Toppers Borussia Dortmund face 3rd place Italian side AC Milan in the 5th game of the group stage. With 1 1-point difference in all of the teams in the group - F, also termed as the group of death for this season is still not finalized as the race to finish among the top two will take us to the last group stage match for sure.

AC Milan injury list: Benaccer, Caldara  

Dortmund injury list: Sabitzer, Morey  

Group - G

Manchester City vs RB Leipzig

Time: 1:30 am  

Both the teams are way above the bottom two teams to qualify for the next round pretty easily. Manchester City are on top with 12 points in four matches he’s with RB Leipzig at 2nd with 9 points and the only game they lost was against the English Champions in Germany. Possibly a weaker team Abby both sides will be asked to perform to give first team players relaxation during this game.

Manchester City injury list:  De Bruyne, Kovacic

Leipzig injury list: Silva, Olmo, Werner, Orban, Bitshiabu  

Young Boys vs Crevena Zvezda  

Time: 1:30 am  

Looks highly unlikely for the Swiss and Serbian champions to qualify for the round of 16 of the Champions League this time out, but what’s exciting about the clash is that any team from the two can drop down to the Europa League with the other going back home from the tournament. The only point of difference in their standings is the goal difference of 2 goals where the Serbian champions are ahead of the other.

Young boys injury list: Imeri, Lauper

Crevena Zvezda injury list: None

Group - H

FC Barcelona vs Porto  

Time: 1:30 am  

Proving to be One of the toughest groups in the tournament, a Gavi-less FC Barcelona will be up against a strong Porto side who are right next to them in the standing with the same points and surprisingly the same goal difference. The point of the talk is that the Ukrainian Champions are third in the group with the same number of points as the top two only slipping behind due to goal difference. A tough call to choose what will the standing be by the end of this Matchday.

FC Barcelona injury list: De Jong, Raphinha, Pedri, Gavi

Porto injury list: None

Group - A

Galatasaray vs Manchester United  

Time: 11:15 pm

Quite Unrealistic but Manchester United are at the bottom of their Champions League Group A which as of now states that they won’t even be able to settle up in the Europa League if their position remains the same. They are up against a Galatasaray squad who defeated them last time out at Old Trafford. A stellar performance with good goal difference is needed for them to improve their standings in the group.

Galatasaray injury list: None

Manchester United injury list: Rashford, Mount, Hojlund, Erikson, Evan’s, Casemiro, Martinez, Diablo, Malacia

Group - B  

Sevilla vs PSV  

Time: 11:15 pm  

2nd placed PSV face Sevilla who are bottom in their group B. Both teams were involved in a stalemate when they faced each other at the PSV turf with each scoring 2 goals. Fun fact if Sevilla wins with a difference of 3 goals, both the teams will swap each other's place in the standing with Sevilla coming onto 2nd and PSV coming at 4th.

Sevilla injury list: Suso, Lamela, Marca, Pastor

PSV injury list: Bella Kotchap

Covers Credit: FourFourTwo